HEAD OF OFFICE

Organizational Context

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), part of the UN Secretariat, is responsible for coordinating humanitarian actors to ensure effective responses to emergencies. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate principled humanitarian action, advocate for those in need, and promote preparedness. This role is based in Kinshasa, DRC, within the Crisis and Response Division, reporting to the Deputy Director of the West and Central Africa Branch.

Job Purpose

The Head of Office serves as a senior policy advisor to the UN Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) and the UN Country Team, focusing on humanitarian principles and initiatives. The role involves strengthening cooperation among humanitarian actors, advocating for humanitarian concerns, and advising on humanitarian reform. Key responsibilities include strategic support for humanitarian programming and coordination, leading humanitarian access negotiations, and ensuring coherent and cost-effective humanitarian activities at local, provincial, and national levels. The position also supports program planning, monitoring, evaluation, resource mobilization, and building national capacity for disaster management, while promoting OCHA's mandate and ensuring efficient office operations.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic policy advice to the UN RC/HC and Country Team on humanitarian principles and initiatives, fostering inter-agency cooperation and engaging with government partners. Lead humanitarian programming and coordination efforts, including strategic support for work plans, humanitarian access negotiations, and ensuring coherent delivery of activities. Consult regularly with stakeholders including UN agencies, NGOs, government, and donors to ensure effective coordination. Support the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of humanitarian programs, promoting best practices and facilitating resource mobilization. Develop and maintain effective coordination mechanisms, establish information management systems, and ensure timely assistance during emergencies. Build national capacity for emergency management and promote disaster risk reduction. Oversee office operations, including work planning, budgeting, financial management, and staff supervision, while promoting OCHA's mandate and producing high-quality outputs.

Work Experience

A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, or crisis relief management is required. This includes at least five years of international humanitarian experience in aid operations within the UN system or a comparable organization, and experience leading and coordinating humanitarian relief operations at a management level in complex emergencies or natural disaster situations. Experience in a mission setting is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Teamwork, Planning and Organizing, Leadership, Performance Management, Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency Preparedness, Crisis Management, Policy Advice, Coordination, Negotiation, Program Management, Financial Management, Staff Supervision, Communication.

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